Method and Apparatus for Automatically Selecting an Optimum Production Cycle

Abstract

A device, computer program product and method for automatically selecting an optimum production process for an industrial product, wherein an optimum production variant for producing the industrial product is automatically provided.

1 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A computer-implemented method for automatically selecting an optimum production cycle for an industrial product, the method comprising:
 receiving, by an apparatus, an industrial product description, provided by an industrial product orderer, and a material parts list for the industrial product, the material parts list comprising a number of respective individual components of the industrial product in accordance with the received industrial product description;   checking to determine whether a production direction, provided by the industrial product orderer, for producing the industrial product is also received;   generating a production direction for producing the industrial product based on the received industrial product description if a production direction for producing the industrial product is not received from the industrial product orderer;   breaking down the generated or received production direction for producing the industrial product into at least one production instruction that comprises at least one of individual separate production steps and subassemblies of the industrial product;   transmitting, by the apparatus, the production instruction to at least one industrial product producer to ascertain necessary production conditions for the industrial product in accordance with the transmitted production instruction;   receiving, by the apparatus, the ascertained production conditions of the industrial product producer for producing the industrial product;   establishing, by the apparatus, the received production conditions as a basis for selecting an optimum production cycle for the industrial product;   wherein said selecting of the optimum production cycle for an industrial product is performed by an artificial neural network trained with the received production conditions.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the optimum production cycle for the industrial product comprises an optimum split for the industrial product into the production instruction and over the industrial product producers and mapping of the production instruction to the received production conditions of the industrial product producers. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the production conditions comprise at least one of (i) a producibility, (ii) a sum of the production costs, (iii) a time of the start of production, (iv) a duration of production, (v) a time of product delivery, (vi) achievable performance metrics and (vii) achievable quality metrics. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the production conditions comprise at least one of (i) a producibility, (ii) a sum of the production costs, (iii) a time of the start of production, (iv) a duration of production, (v) a time of product delivery, (vi) achievable performance metrics and (vii) achievable quality metrics. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein ascertainment of the production conditions comprises a simulation for the production of the industrial product by the industrial product producer. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the simulation for the production of the industrial product comprises a 2D/3D CAD model. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein ascertainment of the production conditions comprises production of a prototype of the industrial product by the industrial product producer. 
     
     
         21 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the optimum production cycle is provided to the industrial product orderer as a digital document. 
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the optimum production cycle is provided to the industrial product orderer via a web interface. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for automatically selecting an optimum production cycle for an industrial product, comprising:
 a receiving unit configured to receive an industrial product description, provided by an industrial product orderer, and a material parts list for the industrial product, the material parts list comprising a number of respective individual components of the industrial product in accordance with the received industrial product description, and configured to receive at least one production condition of an industrial product producer for producing the industrial product;   a checking unit configured to check whether a production direction for producing the industrial product is also received;   a generating unit configured to generate a production direction for producing the industrial product based on the received industrial product description if a production direction for producing the industrial product is not received from the industrial product orderer;   a breakdown unit configured to break down the generated or received production direction for producing the industrial product into at least one production instruction which comprises at least one of (i) individual separate production steps and (ii) subassemblies of the industrial product;   a transmitting unit configured to transmit the production instruction to at least one industrial product producer to ascertain necessary production conditions in accordance with the transmitted production instruction for producing the industrial product; and   a selection unit configured to establish the production conditions received by the receiving unit as a basis for selecting the optimum production cycle for the industrial product, wherein the selecting of the optimum production cycle for an industrial product is performed by an artificial neural network trained with the received production conditions.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the optimum production cycle for the industrial product comprises an optimum split for the industrial product into the production instruction and over the industrial product producers and mapping of the production instruction to the received production conditions of the industrial product producers. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the apparatus comprises a display element, in particular a touch display, for displaying the optimum production cycle. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the display element is a touch display. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the apparatus comprises a display element, in particular a touch display, for displaying the optimum production cycle. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the display element is a touch display. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the apparatus communicates with at least one of (i) the industrial product orderer and (ii) the industrial product producer via a protected communication connection which comprises wired or wireless communication. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the apparatus communicates with at least one of (i) the industrial product orderer and (ii) the industrial product producer via a protected communication connection which comprises wired or wireless communication. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the apparatus communicates with at least one of (i) the industrial product orderer and (ii) the industrial product producer via a protected communication connection which comprises wired or wireless communication. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the optimum production cycle is provided to the industrial product orderer via a web interface. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the optimum production cycle is provided to the industrial product orderer via a web interface. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the optimum production cycle is provided to the industrial product orderer via a web interface. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the optimum production cycle is provided to the industrial product orderer via a web interface. 
     
     
         36 . A computer program containing program code for performing the method as claimed in  claim 14  when the computer program is executed on an electronic device.